2023 highlights
In 2023 Fellows Auctioneers held a total of 13 watch auctions, 6 of which were timed, from their auction rooms based in Birmingham. Reflecting on the year Kain Holroyd, Fellows’ Head of Watches picked out his stand-out pieces which sold during the year. These include.
Breitling SuperOcean - Credit Fellows
A superb vintage Breitling SuperOcean sold in November. The watch had an estimate £7,000 - £9,000 and achieved a hammer price of £17,000. (excluding buyer’s premium).
Also selling in the November sale was a vintage Heuer Carrera which sold for a hammer price of £12,000 against an estimate of £5,500 - £6,500. (excluding buyer’s premium).
Vintage Heuer Carrera - Credit Fellows
For enthusiasts of pocket watches Kain has included in his selection a Patek Philippe minute repeater pocket watch from Fellows’ September sale. With an estimate of £2,000 - £2,500 it hammered at £9,700. (excluding buyer’s premium). To see Kain Holroyd talking about the pocket watch please click on this link: https://youtu.be/n-JuDmTBH7Y?si=29t5xczilz1Cr54q
Fellows’ top 3 trends for building a watch collection in 2024.
Moving forward into 2024, the Watches team at Fellows have identified their top three trends to look out for when building a watch collection, these include.
Trend One: brand recognition:
Brand recognition continues to remain important for collectors but the allure of a highly prestigious brand, such as Rolex, often comes with a high price point. Fellows suggest looking at brands such as Tudor to begin a watch collection if as they note you don’t have the budget to ‘dive in the deep end’. The Tudor brand was originally created by Rolex founder Hans Wilsdorf in 1926. Today the brand has its own dedicated watch Manufacture located in Le Locle, Switzerland which was completed in 2021.
Richard Griza from the Fellows Watch Team said about Tudor; “For your money, you are getting the same quality as Rolex but with a lower entry-level price point.”
Tudor Princess Oysterdate Chrono-Time - Credit Fellows
Fellows’ Birmingham Watches and Watch Collectables auction held on 17th January had a Princess Oysterdate Chrono-Time by Tudor with an estimate of £200 - £300. It sold for £624.00 including buyer’s premium.
Trend Two: vintage and 90s nostalgia
Fellows note that vintage pieces remain popular and that in the past few years, 90s nostalgia has ‘hit big’. Square-faced, digital watches reminiscent of this time are beginning to pop up everywhere. They add that, ‘’this is definitely a trend to keep your eye on if you’re considering starting a collection’’.
Omega Constellation LCD chronograph - Credit Fellows
Kain Holroyd, Head of Watches, commenting on a Constellation LCD chronograph by Omega in their 17th January sale said “the angular design and dual battery powered movement create an instrumental yet visually pleasing tool watch, with a chronograph and alarm function. It is a fantastic example of a retro design’’. The Omega Constellation LCD chronograph had an estimate of
£150 – £200 and sold for £533.00 including buyer’s premium.
Trend Three: slim, wearable watches
Anyone following watch discussions over recent times will have noticed the debate over watch size with a growing preference for smaller sized watches. Fellows have seen this trend now appearing in their watch auctions and observe that, “the days of wearing a huge watch on your wrist are well and truly over”. “Quiet luxury was the trend of 2023” and the team at Fellows expect it to continue into 2024.
Fellows suggest that “instead of looking for watches that might be considered gaudy, look for wearable, slimmer bracelets. But make sure to keep the movements in mind to ensure that the watch you’re getting will last”.
TAG Heuer 2000 Series - Credit Fellows
Speaking about smaller sized watches Nathan Boot in Fellows’ Watch Team said: “Any list lacking a TAG Heuer would not be complete. An iconic watch of the early 2000s, these pieces represent real value for money. Something that stands out about this watch is just how comfortable it is.” An example included in their 17th January sale was TAG Heuer 2000 Series bracelet watch with an estimate of £200 - £300. The watch sold for £351.00 including buyer’s premium.
© All photos are courtesy of Fellows Auctioneers
